derstanding of Polly O'Neill's character, most certainly
she would have laughed. But Esther could not pull herself together so
quickly. A few moments later, however, she put her hands on Polly's
shoulders and in the face of all that had just happened, kissed her.

"No, Polly," she said, "I know that if ever you should make up your
mind that there was something, which I thought best should never be
known, you would never tell it, even if I betray your secret now.
Perhaps we don't agree about some things. But you could never be
revengeful. I am sure I don't know what I ought to do. Of course you
have the right to choose for yourself. I--I wish you wouldn't do what
you have decided upon. But if I don't tell and yet don't let you stay
here with me, what on earth would you do about this theatrical scheme?"

"Why, go to some other boarding house for two weeks," Polly replied
calmly. "I am sure that is exactly what you are doing, boarding in New
York and going on with your work. Of course your work happens to be
studying music at present, but you have already sung at two church
concerts and----"

This time Esther did laugh. "Well, church concerts are hardly to be
compared with the stage, Polly. And please look in your mirror and
remember that I am I and you are you. But of course you realize that
if you will go on with this whim of yours, I am not going to let you
live in any place by yourself. You would be sure to get ill or
something dreadful might happen. No, I shall beg you every minute till
the time comes, not to do what you must know would worry your mother.
But if you still persist, why, you are coming right here to stay with
me and I shall be your shadow every moment until you go back to school."

Polly jumped up hastily. "What an impolite suggestion for a hostess!"
she murmured, pretending that the seriousness of the situation was now
entirely past. "Go back to school? Dear me, that is what I must do
this very minute! Good-bye." And kissing Esther hastily on the hair,
Polly seized her hat and fled out the door.

Yet halfway down the long stairs the girl hesitated and stopped for an
instant as if intending to return.

"Perhaps I ought to give up and be good for once," she whispered to
herself. "It won't be fair, and mother and Mollie and Betty may be
angry with Esther for not telling. Even if I have the right to get
into trouble myself, I haven't the right to drag in other people. But,
oh de